Providing wireless network authentication data to climate control system devices

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for provisioning a wireless-capable climate control system device for a wireless network. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of provisioning a wireless-capable target device for a wireless network includes providing, to the target device, wireless network authentication data for joining the wireless network. The providing is performed using a user-interface-equipped device. The target device attempts to join the wireless network using the wireless network authentication data. In some embodiments the user-interface-equipped device receives a signal from the target device indicating whether the attempt to join the wireless network was successful.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/559,206 filed Dec. 3, 2014, which, in turn, claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/911,243, 61/911,251 and61/911,256, which were all filed Dec. 3, 2013. The entire disclosures ofthe above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to providing wireless networkauthentication data to climate control system devices.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

In climate control systems, thermostats, other controllers, monitoringsystems and/or monitoring equipment capable of communicating wirelesslymay be provided whereby a user, e.g., can select temperature and otherclimate control settings and/or receive data indicative of systemperformance. Wireless-capable thermostats and/or various otherwireless-capable climate control system devices may communicate, e.g.,with a user's home network to receive data from remote sensors in thehome. Wireless-capable thermostats, for example, may also be remotelycontrolled by a user via smart phone, tablet, etc. to manage climatecontrol settings, e.g., when the user is away from home.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed ofapparatus and methods for provisioning a wireless-capable target devicefor a wireless network. In one exemplary implementation, a method ofprovisioning a wireless-capable target device for a wireless networkincludes providing, to a target device of a climate control system,wireless network authentication data for joining a wireless network. Theproviding is performed using a user-interface-equipped device. Thetarget device attempts to join the wireless network using the wirelessnetwork authentication data.

In another exemplary implementation, a climate control system deviceincludes a processor, memory, and a wireless network interfaceconfigured to receive, from a user-interface-equipped device, wirelessnetwork authentication data for joining a wireless network. Using thewireless network authentication data, the climate control system deviceattempts to join the wireless network.

In another exemplary implementation, a method of provisioning a climatecontrol system target device for a wireless network includes configuringthe target device with a capability for authenticating to a networkhaving a pre-designated network name, and changing at least a networkname of the wireless network to the pre-designated network name. Thetarget device is thereby made capable of joining the wireless networkusing at least the pre-designated network name.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a wireless-capable target devicefor use in a climate control system includes a processor, memory, and anetwork interface configured to use at least a pre-designated networkname to authenticate the target device for connection in a networkhaving the pre-designated name. The target device is thereby madecapable of joining a user network connected with the climate controlsystem, after the user network has been named with the pre-designatednetwork name.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams illustrating how a wireless-capable targetdevice may be provisioned for a wireless network in accordance withexample implementations of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of climate control system target devices inaccordance with example implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a home network in accordance with one exampleimplementation of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 4-6 are flow diagrams of methods of provisioning a target deviceof a climate control system in accordance with example implementationsof the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The inventor hereof has recognized that it could be complicated for auser to provision a new wireless-capable device of a climate controlsystem for communication with the user's home network. Such devices caninclude thermostats, other controllers, climate control systemmonitoring devices and equipment, etc. that may have limited userinterfaces, if any. Thermostats, for example, typically provide menuitems and other preset features that may be selected by a user, e.g., bytouching a touch screen on the device. But many, if not most,thermostats do not have a keyboard or other interface by which the usermight enter additional data. Accordingly, the inventor has developed anddiscloses herein exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems, andmethods for providing network authentication information to awireless-capable device of a climate control system for connection in awireless network. Such a device at times may be referred to in thedisclosure and claims as a “target” device. Various implementations ofthe disclosure are contemplated in relation to target devices that mayhave limited or non-existent user interface capabilities.Implementations also are possible, however, in relation to a targetdevice that has a keyboard or other data entry component.

In various embodiments, a target device such as a thermostat may beequipped with a network interface that allows the thermostat to connectwirelessly with a computing device, e.g., with a personal computer (PC),laptop computer, smart phone or other computing device having a userinterface that allows the user to enter data and to display data. A usermay, e.g., use an application made available on the computing deviceinterface to enter authentication information needed by the thermostatto connect with a wireless network, e.g., the user's home network.Additionally or alternatively, if the computing device itself connectsto the same wireless network and has the required authenticationinformation, the application may extract this information andcommunicate it to the thermostat. The thermostat then may use theauthentication information to connect to the wireless network, validatesuccess in making the connection, and inform the application of suchsuccess, which may then be signaled to the user. It should be notedgenerally that although example embodiments are described with referenceto a thermostat, various types of target devices could be provisionedwith authentication information in a wireless network in the same orsimilar manner. Target devices may include (without limitation) otherclimate control system controllers, climate control system monitoringdevices and equipment, etc.

With reference now to the figures, and in various implementations, awireless-capable target device may be provisioned for a wireless networkas shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. As shown in FIG. 1A, a computing device 2includes a user interface such as a keyboard, touch screen, e.g., thatallows data entry and display. The computing device 2 also includes awireless interface. A wireless-capable target device 4 is equipped witha wireless interface that allows the target device 4 to connect with thecomputing device 2. Embodiments also are possible in which a wiredinterface is provided between the computing device 2 and target device4, e.g., over a USB (universal serial bus) connection. In suchembodiments, the target device 4 may communicate with the computingdevice 2 over the wired interface. The target device 4 may also receive,over the wired interface, power needed by the target device 4 tooperate, communicate, and validate that information received from thecomputing device 2 is appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the computing device 2 sends authentication datafor a wireless network 6 to the wireless-capable target device 4. Asshown in FIG. 1B, the target device 4 attempts to join the wirelessnetwork 6 using the authentication data. The wireless network 6 respondsto the attempt by signaling, e.g., whether or not the target device 4has been authenticated for connection in the network 6. As shown in FIG.1C, the user-interface-equipped computing device 2 may receive a signalfrom the target device 4 indicating whether the attempt to join thewireless network 6 was successful.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a wireless-capable targetdevice, e.g., a thermostat 10 embodying one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure. The thermostat 10 is for controlling a climatecontrol system in a residence. Various aspects of the disclosure,however, could be directed to thermostats configured for use in otherstructures and/or environments. Additionally or alternatively, variousaspects of the disclosure could be directed to wireless-capable devicesthat are not thermostats. The thermostat 10 may be configured to receivepower from one or more power source types, including but not limited toa connection to a climate control system transformer, a power stealingcircuit, one or more batteries, etc.

The thermostat 10 has a housing 14 with a front cover 22 and includes adisplay device 24 having a display screen 28, which may be a touchscreen. The display screen 28 is configured to indicate variousenvironmental conditions detected in the residence, to show varioussettings that have been programmed into the thermostat 10, and toprovide an interface whereby a user, e.g., an owner of the residence,may enter and/or change such settings. The display screen 28 is, e.g., asegmented display. A plurality of setting options 32 may betouch-selected by the user. A menu button 36 may be touched to provide anumber of menu items for user selection. No keyboard or other means areprovided whereby a user may affirmatively provide data to the thermostat10. In some implementations, as further described below, a user mayinitiate a process of pairing the thermostat 10, e.g., with the user'shome network in order to provision the thermostat 10 for wirelesscommunication with the home network.

FIG. 2B illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a wireless-capabletarget device, e.g., a HVAC monitoring system data hub 60 embodying oneor more aspects of the present disclosure. The data hub 60 is awireless-capable device and also includes a plurality of connectionports 64. When the data hub 60 is installed e.g., in a residentialclimate control system, connected with various climate control systemsensor inputs and configured for wireless communication, the data hub 60may receive a plurality of sensor data signals from various HVACcomponents of the climate control system and transmit the datawirelessly to a remotely located HVAC monitoring service for analysis.The data hub 60 includes a push button 68 and a plurality of indicatorlights 72, including a power indicator 76, a wireless connectivityindicator 80, and a monitoring service connectivity indicator 84. Nokeyboard or other means are provided on the data hub 60 whereby a usermay enter additional data. In some implementations as further describedbelow, a user may activate the push button 68 to initiate a process ofpairing the data hub 60, e.g., with the user's home network in order toprovision the data hub 60 for wireless communication with the homenetwork and the HVAC monitoring service.

FIG. 3 shows an example network 100 and one embodiment of a targetdevice 102 to be provisioned in accordance with an exampleimplementation of the present disclosure. The target device 102, e.g.,the thermostat 10 or data hub 60, includes a microprocessor 40 andmemory 44. The target device 102 is capable of performing wirelesscommunication through a network interface 48. In variousimplementations, the target device 102 can be provisioned, as describedbelow, for wireless communication in the network 100, e.g., a homenetwork of the user. At least one wireless-enabled user device 104 isconnectible in the network 100 and may include, e.g., a laptop computer106 and/or a smart phone 108. User devices 104 may additionally oralternatively include, e.g., home computers, personal computers (PCs),tablets, etc. The network 100 may also include, for example and withoutlimitation, an access point/router 112 in communication with a wide-areanetwork (WAN), e.g., the Internet 116.

In various embodiments the home owner may have a user account, e.g.,with an energy management service or utility. The home owner may usesuch an account, e.g., to track and/or manage energy usage in the home.In various embodiments the user account is accessible through a webportal 120. Thus the home owner may use, e.g., the smart phone 108and/or laptop computer 106 to remotely and/or locally track and/ormanage energy usage in the home through the target device 102, after thetarget device 102 has been connected in the network 100 and associatedwith the user's account.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may be directed to a target device(such as a wireless thermostat, controller, etc.) and auser-interface-equipped computing device (such as a PC, laptop, etc.)that are both capable of accessing the same physical wirelesscommunication medium. One example method of provisioning a target devicesuch as a thermostat is indicated generally in FIG. 4 by referencenumber 200. In the present example implementation, performance of themethod 200 shall be described with reference to the network 100, targetdevice 102 and one of the user devices shown in FIG. 3, e.g., the laptopcomputer 106. The method, however, could be performed using the smartphone 108 or other wireless user device 104 that has a user interface.

In process 204 the target device 102 is factory-programmed with apredefined authentication setup. For example, the memory 44 of thetarget device 102 may be configured with executable software thatenables the target device 102 to perform as a “soft” access point (softAP). Additionally, a software application is made available to apurchaser of the target device 102, e.g., for execution on or throughthe user's laptop computer 106, smart phone 108, or other computingdevice that has a user interface. The application is configured toprovide authentication information including, e.g., a network name (alsoknown as a service set identification (SSID)) and password, forconnecting with the target device 102 soft AP. Additionally oralternatively, in various embodiments a card or other notification maybe included with the target device 102 when the target device 102 ispurchased. The notification may provide the authentication informationfor connecting with the target device 102 via the soft AP.

In some embodiments, the laptop computer 106 is used to access thesoftware application. For example, the user may download the softwareapplication to the laptop computer 106, e.g., from the web portal 120.Additionally or alternatively, the laptop computer 106 may access thesoftware application as a web service through the web portal 120, etc.In some embodiments, the software application is made available througha user energy management account with an energy management service,e.g., through the web portal 120.

In process 208 the target device 102 is powered on. In process 212 theuser accesses the software application, e.g., on the user's laptop 106and runs the application. In process 216 the software applicationprovides the laptop computer 106 with the authentication informationwhereby the laptop computer 106 may be authenticated to and connect withthe target device 102 soft AP. In some implementations, e.g., where theauthentication information has been provided in a notificationaccompanying the target device 102 at purchase, the user may enter theauthentication information via the laptop 106 keyboard. In process 220the target device 102, performing as AP, authenticates the laptopcomputer 106 and allows the laptop computer 106 to connect with thetarget device 102. In process 224 the user enters authenticationinformation (e.g., SSID and password) for the home network 100 on thelaptop computer 106, e.g., via the laptop keyboard.

In process 228 the laptop computer 106 is instructed, e.g., by thesoftware application, to send the authentication information for thehome network 100 to the target device 102. Alternatively, where thelaptop computer 106 is connected with the home network 100, the softwareapplication may automatically extract the home network authenticationinformation from the laptop computer 106 and send it to the targetdevice 102. In process 232 the target device 102 attempts to connectwith and authenticate to the home network 100, e.g., through theAP/router 112, by using the authentication information received from thelaptop computer 106. In attempting to connect with the home network 100,the target device 102 may disconnect from the laptop computer 106 ifneed be (e.g., if the same radio is used for connecting the targetdevice 102 in both the soft AP network and the home network 100).

In process 236 the target device 102 informs the laptop computer 106 asto whether or not the target device 102 connected successfully with thehome network 100. In order to inform the laptop computer 106, the targetdevice 102 may disconnect from the home network 100 and reconnect to thelaptop computer 106 over the AP network if need be. Additionally oralternatively, embodiments are possible in which auser-interface-equipped device connects, e.g., with the Internet via alocal wireless network, cellular network, etc. when a target device isno longer in soft AP mode, and checks with an appropriate server todetermine whether or not the target device connected successfully withthe wireless network. In various embodiments a user-interface-equippeddevice may connect with a local wireless network and perform discoveryon the local wireless network to discover whether the target deviceresponds. In some embodiments, a user may be requested to check a targetdevice's user interface (which may be somewhat limited, as previouslydiscussed) for an indication as to whether or not the target deviceconnected successfully with the wireless network. Additionally oralternatively, embodiments are possible in which a target deviceincludes a wireless interface allowing the target device to perform inAP mode and station mode at the same time. In such embodiments, thetarget device may attempt to connect with a target wireless networkwhile still in soft AP mode, and may report success to auser-interface-equipped device while the target device is stillconnected with the wireless network.

Thus in various embodiments, authentication information for joining thehome network 100 is provided to the target device 102, and substantiallyimmediate confirmation of successful connection may be obtained.Additionally, in various implementations, communications among thelaptop computer 106, target device 102 and home network 100, e.g., forprovisioning the target device 102, may be encrypted to preventunauthorized access to information being communicated.

In some embodiments, a user wishing, e.g., to provision a target devicesuch as a thermostat for the user's home wireless network may use anapplication made available on the computing device user interface toallow the user's home network to authenticate the target device. In someembodiments, authentication information for joining a wireless networkis provided by the target device. One example method of provisioning atarget device such as a thermostat is indicated generally in FIG. 5 byreference number 300. In the present example implementation, performanceof the method 300 shall be described with reference to the network 100,target device 102 and one of the user devices shown in FIG. 3, e.g., thelaptop computer 106. The method, however, could be performed using thesmart phone 108 or other wireless user device 104 that has a userinterface.

In process 304 the target device 102 is factory-programmed with apredefined authentication setup. For example, the memory 44 of thetarget device 102 may be configured with executable software by whichthe target device 102 may use a pre-designated set of authenticationinformation to connect with and authenticate to a network that is yet tobe identified. The target device 102 may be configured, e.g., to send apassword “A” to join a yet-to-be-identified network for which thenetwork name (i.e., service set identification (SSID)) is “X.”Additionally, a software application may be made available to apurchaser or other user of the target device 102, e.g., for execution onor through the user's laptop computer 106, smart phone 108, or othercomputing device that has a user interface. In some embodiments, thelaptop computer 106 is used to access the software application. Forexample, the user may download the software application to the laptopcomputer 106, e.g., from the web portal 120. Additionally oralternatively, the laptop computer 106 may access the softwareapplication as a web service through the web portal 120, etc. In someembodiments, the software application is made available through a userenergy management account with an energy management service, e.g.,through the web portal 120. Additionally or alternatively, in variousembodiments, a card or other notification may be included with thetarget device 102 when the thermostat 10 is purchased. The notificationmay describe the target device's pre-designated set of authenticationinformation.

In various embodiments, the laptop computer 106 may be configured, e.g.,by the software application, to perform actions that allow the targetdevice 102 to connect with and authenticate to, e.g., an actual networkhaving the network name “X”. Referring again to FIG. 5, in process 308the user may access the software application, e.g., on the user's laptopcomputer 106 that is connected with and authenticated to the user's homenetwork 100. In process 312 the laptop computer 106 changes the networkname of the home network 100 from its current name to the network name“X” pre-designated in the target device 102. The laptop computer 106also changes the password for the home network 100 from its currentsetting to the password “A” pre-designated in the target device 102.Additionally or alternatively, and referring again to process 308, wherea notification describing the target device's pre-designated set ofauthentication information was included with the target device 102 atpurchase, the user may use the information to manually change the homenetwork configuration. In process 316 the target device 102 is poweredon and detects the home network 100, which is currently named “X.” Inprocess 320 the target device 102 uses the password “A” to connect withthe home network 100, which authenticates the target device 102. In suchmanner, the target device 102 may be provisioned to the user's homenetwork 100.

In optional process 324 the laptop computer 106, which is connected withthe home network 100, may be instructed by the software application tochange at least the network name and password of the home network 100back to their previous values, or in some embodiments, to change atleast the network name and/or password to different value(s). Suchchanges are made after the target device 102 has joined the home network100. Alternatively, the user may manually change the network name and/orpassword of the home network 100 back to their previous value(s), or todifferent value(s), after the target device 102 has joined the homenetwork 100. The target device 102 is notified of such changes andthereafter may use the changed network name and/or changed password toconnect to the home network 100.

Another example method of provisioning a target device such as athermostat is indicated generally in FIG. 6 by reference number 400. Inthe present example implementation, performance of the method 400 shallbe described with reference to the network 100, target device 102 andone of the user devices shown in FIG. 3, e.g., the laptop computer 106.The method, however, could be performed using the smart phone 108 orother wireless user device 104 that has a user interface.

In process 404 the target device 102 is factory-programmed with apredefined authentication setup. For example, the memory 44 of thetarget device 102 may be configured with executable software thatenables the target device 102 to discover and communicate withneighboring devices in an ad-hoc network. Additionally, a softwareapplication is provided to a purchaser of the target device 102, e.g.,for execution on or through the laptop computer 106, smart phone 108, orother computing device that has a user interface. The application isconfigured to provide authentication information including, e.g., anetwork name (also known as a service set identification (SSID)) andpassword, for the ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, the laptopcomputer 106 is used to access the software application. For example,the user may download the software application to the laptop computer106, e.g., from the web portal 120. Additionally or alternatively, thelaptop computer 106 may access the software application as a web servicethrough the web portal 120, etc. In some embodiments, the softwareapplication is made available through a user energy management accountwith an energy management service, e.g., through the web portal 120.Additionally or alternatively, in various embodiments, a card or othernotification may be included with the target device 102 when the targetdevice 102 is purchased. The notification may provide the authenticationinformation for connecting with the target device 102 in ad-hoc mode.

In process 408 the user accesses the software application, e.g., on theuser's laptop computer 106 and runs the application. In process 412 thesoftware application provides the laptop computer 106 with theauthentication information whereby the laptop computer 106 may beauthenticated to and connect with the target device 102 in ad-hoc mode.Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, e.g., where theauthentication information has been provided in a notificationaccompanying the target device 102 at purchase, the user may enter theauthentication information via the laptop 106 keyboard.

In process 416 the target device 102 is powered on. In process 420 thetarget device 102 transmits beacons to discover neighboring device(s).Such device(s) may include the laptop computer 106, which also may bebeaconing in ad-hoc mode. In process 424, ad-hoc connectivity isestablished between the laptop computer 106 and the target device 102.Specifically and for example, the laptop computer 106 responds to thetarget device 102 (and/or vice versa). The laptop computer 106 sends thead-hoc network authentication information to the target device 102, andthe target device 102 authenticates the laptop computer 106.

In process 428 the user enters authentication information (e.g., SSIDand password) for the home network on the laptop computer 106, e.g., viathe laptop computer keyboard. In process 432 the laptop computer 106 isinstructed, e.g., by the software application, to send the home networkauthentication information to the target device 102. Alternatively,where the laptop computer 106 is connected with the home network 100,the software application may automatically extract the home networkauthentication information from the laptop computer 106 and send it tothe target device 102. In process 436 the target device 102 attempts toconnect with and authenticate to the home wireless network 100, e.g.,through the AP/router 112, by using the authentication informationreceived from the laptop computer 106. In process 440 the target device102 informs the laptop computer 106 whether or not the target device 102connected successfully with the home network 100. Thus, authenticationinformation for joining the home network is provided to the targetdevice 102, and substantially immediate confirmation of successfulconnection may be obtained. In various implementations, communicationsamong the laptop computer 106, target device 102 and home network 100may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to information beingcommunicated.

Embodiments of the foregoing apparatus and methods make it possible fora user to connect essentially any currently available wireless devicethat has no user interface to a wireless network, in ways that aresubstantially secure and that provide substantially immediate feedbackas to whether the connection was successful. Connections can be mademore quickly, smoothly and cost-effectively than through the use of mostcurrent methods, e.g., many methods involving USB mass storage. Suchmethods typically require a device to be a host, may require the paymentof a royalty, and do not provide immediate verification of successfulconnectivity and/or accuracy of the information.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail. In addition, advantages and improvements that maybe achieved with one or more exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure are provided for purpose of illustration only and do notlimit the scope of the present disclosure, as exemplary embodimentsdisclosed herein may provide all or none of the above mentionedadvantages and improvements and still fall within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapesdisclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values andparticular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive ofother values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more ofthe examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any twoparticular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define theendpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the givenparameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value fora given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any valuebetween the first and second values could also be employed for the givenparameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to havevalue A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned thatparameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z.Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges ofvalues for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping ordistinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value thatmight be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example,if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may haveother ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3,3-10, and 3-9.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

The term “about” when applied to values indicates that the calculationor the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (withsome approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonablyclose to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecisionprovided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with thisordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at leastvariations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or usingsuch parameters. For example, the terms “generally,” “about,” and“substantially,” may be used herein to mean within manufacturingtolerances.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements, intended orstated uses, or features of a particular embodiment are generally notlimited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, areinterchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if notspecifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in manyways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from thedisclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of provisioning a wireless-capabletarget device for a wireless network, the method comprising: providing afirst WiFi wireless network for communication, in a climate controlsystem, of one or more climate control system devices; providing powerto a target climate control system device, the target climate controlsystem device having been manufacturer-programmed to perform, upon beingprovided with power, as a soft access point for the first WiFi wirelessnetwork for recognition by a user device and for access by the userdevice to the first WiFi wireless network initiated by the targetclimate control system device; prompting the user device to send, to thetarget climate control system device, information for authenticating theuser device in the first WiFi wireless network; authenticating andconnecting, by the target climate control system device, the user deviceto the first WiFi wireless network based on the information; sending, bythe authenticated and connected user device, connection andauthentication data for a second WiFi wireless network to the targetclimate control system device via the first WiFi wireless network; andattempting, by the target climate control system device, to join thesecond WiFi wireless network using the sent second WiFi wireless networkconnection and authentication data.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe target climate control system device is further operable, afterhaving joined the second WiFi wireless network, to transmit data and/orsettings for control of the climate control system via the second WiFiwireless network.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target climatecontrol system device is operable, after having joined the second WiFiwireless network, to transmit climate control settings for control ofthe climate control system via the second WiFi wireless network.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the target climate control system device isoperable, after having joined the second WiFi wireless network, totransmit settings programmed into the target climate control systemdevice for control of the climate control system via the second WiFiwireless network.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the target climatecontrol system device is operable, after having joined the second WiFiwireless network, to transmit user settings for control of the climatecontrol system via the second WiFi wireless network.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising entering and/or changing the user settingsthat are transmitted by the target climate control system device forcontrol of the climate control system via the second WiFi wirelessnetwork.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a userenergy management account with an energy management service to obtainthe information for authenticating the user device in the second WiFiwireless network.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisingencrypting the information and the data.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the target climate control system device includes one or more ofthe following: a thermostat, a climate control system controller, aclimate control system monitoring device, and climate control systemmonitoring equipment.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user devicereceives a signal from the target climate control system deviceindicating whether the attempting to join the second WiFi wirelessnetwork was successful.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprisingusing, by the user, a user interface of the user device to enter andsend the information for authenticating the user device in the firstWiFi wireless network.
 12. A target climate control system devicecomprising a processor, memory, and a wireless network interfaceconfigured to: upon receiving power and before being authenticated to asecond WiFi wireless network for communication, in a climate controlsystem, of one or more climate control system devices, initiatebeaconing as a first WiFi wireless network node; receiving, from aneighboring user-interface-equipped device, information forauthenticating the user-interface-equipped device to the first WiFiwireless network for communication with the target climate controlsystem device; authenticating and connecting with theuser-interface-equipped device in an ad-hoc mode based on theinformation to the target climate control system device; receivingconnection and authentication data for the second WiFi wireless networkfrom the user-interface-equipped device in the ad-hoc mode from theuser-interface-equipped device; and attempting, by the target climatecontrol system device, to join the second WiFi wireless network usingthe received connection and authentication data.
 13. The target climatecontrol system device of claim 12, wherein the target climate controlsystem device is further operable, after having joined the user wirelessnetwork, to transmit data and/or settings for control of the climatecontrol system via the second WiFi wireless network.
 14. The targetclimate control system device of claim 13, wherein the target climatecontrol system device is operable, after having joined the second WiFiwireless network, to transmit climate control settings for control ofthe climate control system via the second WiFi wireless network.
 15. Thetarget climate control system device of claim 13, wherein the targetclimate control system device is operable, after having joined thesecond WiFi wireless network, to transmit settings programmed into thetarget climate control system device and/or user settings for control ofthe climate control system via the second WiFi wireless network.
 16. Thetarget climate control system device of claim 12, wherein: theprocessor, memory, and wireless network interface are further configuredto receive the connection and authentication data entered via a userinterface of the user-interface-equipped device; and/or the targetclimate control system device comprises one or more of the following: athermostat, a climate control system controller, a climate controlsystem monitoring device, and climate control system monitoringequipment; and/or the target climate control system device is furtherconfigured to send a signal to the user-interface-equipped deviceindicating whether the attempting to join the second WiFi wirelessnetwork was successful.
 17. A target climate control system devicecomprising a processor, memory, and a wireless network interfaceconfigured to: perform, upon being provided with power, as a soft accesspoint for a first WiFi wireless network for recognition by a user deviceand for access by the user device to the first WiFi wireless networkinitiated by the target climate control system device; receiveinformation for authenticating the user device in the first WiFiwireless network for communication with the target climate controlsystem device; authenticate and connect, by the target climate controlsystem device, the user device to the first WiFi wireless network basedon the information; receive connection and authentication data for asecond WiFi wireless network from the authenticated and connected userdevice via the first WiFi wireless network; and attempt, by the targetclimate control system device, to join the second WiFi wireless networkusing the second WiFi wireless network connection and authenticationdata.
 18. The target climate control system device of claim 17, whereinthe target climate control system device is further operable, afterhaving joined the user wireless network, to transmit data and/orsettings for control of the climate control system via the second WiFiwireless network.
 19. A method of provisioning a wireless-capable targetdevice for a wireless network, the method comprising: providing power toa target climate control system device such that the target climatecontrol system device is operable as a soft access point for a firstWiFi wireless network for recognition by a user device and for access bythe user device to the first WiFi wireless network initiated by thetarget climate control system device; authenticating and connecting theuser device to the first WiFi wireless network based on information forauthenticating the user device in the first WiFi wireless networkreceived by the target climate control system device; sending, by theauthenticated and connected user device, connection and authenticationdata for a second WiFi wireless network to the target climate controlsystem device via the first WiFi wireless network; and attempting, bythe target climate control system device, to join the second WiFiwireless network using the sent second WiFi wireless network connectionand authentication data.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the targetclimate control system device is further operable, after having joinedthe second WiFi wireless network, to transmit data and/or settings forcontrol of the climate control system via the second WiFi wirelessnetwork; and/or the method further comprises prompting the user deviceto send, to the target climate control system device, the informationfor authenticating the user device in the first WiFi wireless network.